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Letters - May 25

Now the citizens of Hood River are protected from having such dangerous chemicals as fluorosilic acid, which is a bi-product of phosphate fertilizer production, added to their drinking water. Huzah!

However, I am slightly amused at doctors Charles Haynie and Kyle House, who were the driving force responsible for the distribution of propaganda stating that measure 14-23 was attempting to trick voters into inadvertently banning fluoride outright, now concede, “Measure 14-23 is not about fluoride ...”

If they agree that Measure 14-23 was not about banning fluoride, then why the aggressive campaign against it?

How could these men argue for adding F6-Si.2H to our water instead of plain old FL?

Oh well, common sense prevailed in the end. See you in November.

January M. Vawter

Hood River

On deconstruction

Saturday’s Home & Garden section featured an excellent article about the multiple benefits of dismantling buildings versus throwing them away (creating jobs and providing affordable local building materials through the tax-deductible act of donating waste!). As director of our local reuse store (Gorge Rebuild-it Center), I am excited to watch deconstruction evolve into a valid option that both competes with and supplements traditional demolition methods.

I see a short-term problem with deconstruction, though I am pleased that the long-term solution is simply job creations. Consistent with a national trend, there is a shortage of licensed and qualified deconstruction crews in the Gorge to handle the dramatic increase in demand. (Note: That White Salmon house was deconstructed by a crew from Portland). Deconstruction is viable. It is tough work. This evolving niche of construction requires specialized training and networking among others in the trade in order to be effective.

Gorge Rebuild-it Center hopes to launch our own deconstruction business this winter. Meanwhile, for those contractors who are interested in focusing on deconstruction, we want to help you find the information and training needed. And we will refer jobs to you for bid. Any questions, please contact me at Gorge Rebuild-it Center.

David Skakel

Executive Director

Gorge Rebuild-it Center

Hood River

Informed ‘right’

It’s humorous that Teresa Webb would suggest that I should apply for a position in the president’s administration. Let me assure her that I cannot rise to the level of intelligence and, more importantly, restraint that these fine people demonstrate daily. They are under constant attack from liberal extremists like Bill Moyer whom Ms. Webb holds up as a bellwether journalist.

To postulate that the media is right-leaning is simply absurd. One only needs to read the rabid attacks on anything conservative by the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, The Oregonian and on and on. The major TV networks are even worse. How about a positive article on Big Business, where the vast majority of America’s jobs come from? All we see is negativity and whining.

To presume that I am ill-informed is an insult. I travel the world as an international construction engineer. I have been in 70 countries on 6 continents in the last ten years. I have been in almost every U.S. state in recent years. I interact with thousands of issues. I assure you, I am well-informed.

To paint me as “right-wing” is a typical reaction of the type of people who see a conspiracy in the fact that they lost the last few elections. If you do not agree with these people, you are “right wing”, an epithet to them. To set the record straight I am pro-abortion, pro-union, pro-gun, pro-business, pro-American and anti-liberal. If all this makes me “right wing” then so be it.

The liberals would like to think that they have all the answers to American’s problems and I applaud them for their intellectual efforts. The problem is that they are also convinced that if you do not agree with them you are an ill-informed moron.

For surely when the truth is evident, only one course of action is possible — their course. Any free thinking, intelligent human being will see through their logic to real truth that lies behind the “smoke and mirrors”.

I am proud to have George Bush as our president. That’s more than I could say when Clinton was in office.